[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
The Denver Pioneers (17-16, 6-10 Summit) battle the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (21-12, 12-4) on Tuesday in the Summit League Championship. Tip from Denny Sanford Premier Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Denver vs. South Dakota State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Cinderella run by 7th-seeded Denver continues after the Pioneers defeated the 6th-seeded Omaha Mavericks 66-63 on Monday night. Denver covered the 1-point spread as the Under (153.5) cashed. Senior G Tommy Bruner led the way for the Pioneers with 23 points, hitting half of the team’s 10 made 3-pointers. Denver also forced 13 Omaha turnovers. The Pioneers have never played in the NCAA Tournament in their school’s history.
The top-seeded Jackrabbits took care of business on Monday night, defeating the No. 4 St. Thomas Tommies 59-49 to cover the 3-point spread while the Under (141) cashed. South Dakota State’s top scorer G Zeke Mayo only produced 11 points, but he was helped by G Charlie Easily‘s 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. This would be the Jackrabbit’s 2nd trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last 3 years.
These 2 teams split their season series, each team holding home court. Denver won outright as a 3.5-point underdog 99-80 on Jan. 13. South Dakota State won and covered the 9-point spread 97-70 on Feb. 22. The Over cashed in both meetings.
– Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Denver vs. South Dakota State odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:53 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Denver +420 (bet $100 to win $420) | South Dakota State -580 (bet $580 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Denver +9.5 (-102) | South Dakota State -9.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Denver vs. South Dakota State picks and predictions
Prediction
South Dakota State 83, Denver 71
Moneyline
PASS.
You should avoid betting South Dakota State (-580) as the juice is pretty steep. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
AVOID.
These 2 teams beat each other convincingly on their home courts, but this is a totally different ballgame — a championship game on a neutral court.
If I had a lean, it’s taking South Dakota State to cover the spread (-9.5). Denver has had an amazing run to get to this game, but I feel like the Jackrabbits will be too much for this team to overcome. They have been here before and have experience in these pressure situations.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
BET UNDER 155.5 (-105).
In their two games during the regular season, they put on a show offensively. They totaled 179 and 167 respectively, but again this is a totally different environment with a lot more on the line. Denver is very inexperienced and likely to come out tight in the 1st half. Unlike South Dakota State, who is looking to go to the Big Dance for the 2nd time in 3 years.
It’ll be a high-scoring affair, but not nearly the shootouts that happened in their 2 meetings earlier this season.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men’s hoops / Women’s hoops / High School
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]